Don't Let Me Fall (a Tom Riddle not-so-short-short-story)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

It was around Christmas and Rose was utterly confused and torn. Tom had been acting like an overprotective boyfriend; he glared at boys who look at her, scaring off boys who asked her out, making sure she ate healthy and got exercise, helping her study and do homework, he sat next her in every class and hexed anyone who was rude to her. He would hold open doors and pull out chairs for her, he would even carry her book bag. Tom seemed to be polite, pleasant, sweet, charismatic, and alluring man. From what Rose knew about him from the future, he was supposed to be an unpleasant, vicious, wicked, and vile wizard.

What made it worse was the fact that she started to actually like the murderer, she found him enchanting and admirable. She started disliking Dumbledore more and more every day, she was starting to think of him as the bad guy instead of Tom. Rose was starting to feel terrified of her feelings and thoughts, every time she was around HIM her heart would start to flutter and it was hard for her not to stutter around him. The worse thing, though, was the fact that she knew, deep in her mind and heart that it was his plan to get her to fall in love with him, and it was working. Rose knew that he could never love her, for he was conceived under a love potion.

Rose walked by the shores of the lake and muttered softly, "Please don't let me fall for him. I can't fall for him."

She had to keep her mind, she was sent into the past for a reason, even though she still did not know why. She knew Tom had read her letter, she knew he want her for her knowledge on the future, she knew he would create horcruxes and kill, she knew he was evil, but her heart did not care, did not listen. Her heart craved him, his smile, his laugh, his voice, his everything. It was maddening.

Rose pulled out a small photo album she had of her family and friends in the future and sat on the shore. She went through it picture after picture until she came to an old one, take three years before she was born. It was of her father and older half-brother. She remembered stories of her half-brother, Christopher, he was 11 when he died. He went to Hogwarts and was in Gryffindor, the brave fool had stayed to fight in the battle of Hogwarts and was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Her brother was dead because of Tom, she never got to have a loving older brother to watch out for her. He was taken too soon, he was too young to have died. He was the reason she must not, should not fall in love with Tom.

Rose stood up and made her way back to the castle, album in hand. Her heart harden and forced the Slytherin heir out of it. She would not, could not, fall in love with the monster who as good as killed her brother himself. Rose walked briskly to Dumbledore's office. She would find a way to save her brother, she would find out why she was sent back in time. She would always be against Tom and would not let him slither his way back into her heart. She might not be a brave and daring Gryffindor like her brother, but she was cunning and determined. She would stop at nothing to achieve what her heart desires.

---------------------------------------------------

Tom watched Rose from the Astronomy Tower as she walked by the lake muttering to herself. He smirked knowing that he was getting to her. His plan was falling in place; it was coming along perfectly. He noticed how Rose started acting different around him, smiling, giggling, and even blushing occasionally. She seemed to avoid Dumbledore as much as possible which made Tom feel accomplished. He knew it wouldn't be much longer before she did whatever he asked of her without question.

It did not bother Tom that he was playing with her heart, with her emotion, after all he cared for no one. He wanted her, no, he needed her to fulfill his dreams and to rid the world of the filth called Muggles. Rose was putty in his hands, or so he thought.